Why does it take months to get a transgender identity certificate?

I live in Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir. There are multiple aspects to my identity. I come from a conventional Sikh family classified as Scheduled Caste. My family migrated to Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan after the partition of India. Currently, I am a PhD student at the University of Jammu. Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community is a significant part of who I am. I don’t subscribe to a binary gender identity and instead identify as gender non-conforming or non-binary.

A person who identifies as transgender, genderqueer, intersex, non-binary, hijra, kinnar, aravani, and so on can apply on the website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for a transgender certificate and identity card. This document grants access to benefits such as reservation in education or jobs, fee concessions, and several government schemes. The process should take a maximum of 30 days and is supposed to be online so that the applicant doesn’t face social discrimination, exploitation, or any kind of pressure. However, I can share numerous instances where people have had to wait for months to get this certificate, make repeated visits to government offices, or send countless emails to various officials. I have been actively involved in such cases, including those of a friend from Kashmir, my partner, and myself.

When I applied for my certificate, I had to email more than 10 officials, over fifty times in total. I reached out to the divisional commissioner of Jammu, the district collector, assistant district collector, governor of the Grievance Cell, and the director of the Department of Social Welfare among others. I even sent emails to and personally met the commissioner secretary to the Department of Social Welfare. Unless you email all these officials, your application doesn’t move forward. Most of the time, the officials’ email accounts are managed by their secretaries or other officials, who may not be sensitive to LGBTQIA+ issues. This leads to files being handled openly, resulting in information leaks and harassment. I was also asked to come to the office and was repeatedly told to be present for address verification, which isn’t even a requirement.

In my partner’s case, a government employee disclosed to their sister that they were applying for these documents. My partner had not yet come out to their family, who believe that such an identity would harm their social standing. As a result, my partner lost the opportunity to disclose their identity on their own terms and explain their situation. My friend from Kashmir also faced challenges and humiliation due to societal prejudice.

When I went through the process, I faced many difficulties. But I had hoped that, by now, people would be a bit more sensitive. When I discussed the process with officials, I was assured that these issues would be resolved. Yet, to get my partner’s certificate, I am still sending multiple emails, and we’re facing the same months-long wait. The atmosphere at their home remains tense, and the document still hasn’t been made. These documents, which are supposed to save us from discrimination and humiliation, have become the very reason for it.

Jaspreet Singh lives in Jammu and is pursuing a PhD from Central University of Jammu.

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Know more: Learn more about why trans women are unable to find jobs.

Do more: Send this pamphlet to those who may be looking to apply for a transgender certificate.